FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 12, 2022 

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VIDEO: Burke County Sheriff Applauds Reverend Warnock’s Work to Support Local Law Enforcement

Sheriff Alfonzo Williams: Reverend Warnock “Really Gets That We Often, In Rural Areas, Get Swallowed Up By The Larger Agencies” 

Atlanta, GA – Today, the Warnock for Georgia campaign released a video featuring Burke County Sheriff Alfonzo Williams, who applauded Reverend Warnock’s bipartisan bill to support local law enforcement. The Invest to Protect Act, which passed the Senate unanimously last month, invests in local law enforcement agencies in Georgia, providing them funds for training, equipment, mental health support, officer recruitment, and retention.

WATCH HERE

See full transcript below: 

I’m Alfonzo Williams of the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, and we’re glad to be here with Reverend Senator Raphael Warnock. 

I am here to meet with the senator to tell him how much rural law enforcement appreciates the investment act, the bill that will help sheriffs and chiefs and law enforcement with mental health issues, will help pay for college for law enforcement persons who wish to go back to study. 

The Senator really gets that we often, in rural areas, get swallowed up by the larger agencies. So this bill is going to focus on providing funding for agencies with 200 or less sworn personnel. It’s an opportunity to address our physical and mental health needs, and I’m excited about it. And I wanted to be here to say thank you.

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND ON WARNOCK’S SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY SAFETY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT:

• Reverend Warnock helped secure $3.9 billion in grants for state and local law enforcement in the FY2022 spending bill—an increase of $506.4 million over the previous year. 

• Within this legislative package, Warnock secured $250 million for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) hiring program, a $9 million increase in funding over the previous fiscal year. This program will fund additional personnel, supplies, support, and training for local police departments.

• Reverend Warnock is leading the effort to expand access to mental health and peer counseling services for law enforcement officials.

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